Many couples are today considering artificial insemination for getting pregnant. It is one of the most common and popular methods for people who are facing infertility related issues. And technically speaking, intrauterine insemination (IUI), is a kind of artificial insemination wherein the male sperm is directly deposited in the woman’s reproductive area. So if you are interested in learning more about IUI Success Rate or success with intrauterine insemination procedure, this article is for you.

Will IUI Help Conceive?

Artificial insemination is a process to improve fertility. In earlier days, the male semen sample was placed in the cervix, and the process was known as an intracervical insemination (ICI). These were unwashed and unprocessed sperms, that were placed in the vagina and close to the cervical canal opening, using a catheter. The chances of success in this process were limited.

But in the early 1980’s, researchers compared the IUI process to intercourse in women undergoing fertility therapies. And the results of this study showed higher pregnancy rates in the IUI group over the other one. Since then, the IUI process has gained more popularity than the ICI process. Also, the cost associated with IUI treatment is much lesser than that of IVF treatment. And, it might be covered by your health insurance policy. But do check with your insurer.

Latest IUI treatment procedure.

Today, IUI treatments are done with the semen sample being washed in the laboratory and then transferred to a catheter. This catheter is then used to inject the sperm samples into the uterine cavity, passing through the cervix and into the uterus. However, it is important to know that the IUI success rates are dependent on various infertility factors.

Factors Affecting IUI Success

Your doctors will explain how IUI is an effective treatment in male factor infertility cases, or when it is caused by ovulation problems. In certain cases of unexplained infertility too, IUI can be successful. Being a non invasive treatment, your doctor may recommend IUI for low sperm counts, or decreased sperm motility cases. In other situations, like when a couple has a known genetic condition, and IUI treatment can help avoid passing the genetic condition to the baby. If the husband has a genetic condition, passing it to the child can be avoided by using donor semen. Even for single women who want to have a baby, IUI can be a recommended treatment.

However, the IUI success rates depend on a number of factors like,

• Unexplained fertility – The uterus must be healthy, there should be a good egg count, and properly functioning fallopian tubes. The male partner sperm count must be healthy too. And when treated with fertility drugs, the success rates can reach 15% to 25%.

• Woman’s Age – A critical factor that influences fertility treatment, as well as the success rate of IUI procedures. For those under 35 years, the success rate of IUI is approximately 13%, while it drops to 3% for those over 40 years. In certain cases, due to the decreasing quality of eggs, one may have to undergo multiple IUI cycles to conceive.

Then there are other factors linked to proper diagnosis and timing of the procedure. Here, any delays in the scheduled process may affect the chances of a successful IUI pregnancy.

IUI Success Rate With Fertility Drugs

The IUI success rate depends on the age of the woman undergoing treatment. The average success rates discussed above are elaborated as below:

• 10% success rate per cycle for women ages 35 to 40
• 5% success rate per cycle for women over 40

So if the fertility doctor suspects female infertility issues, they may prescribe a round of fertility drugs before the process of artificial insemination. As discussed above, such drugs help boost up the ovulation process and release more eggs.

However, it is best to consult your doctor for the most suitable treatment.